The Royals head into the 2025 Winter Meetings in Orlando next week knowing exactly what stands between them and a postseason berth: a more potent offense. An 82–80 season showed progress from key players, but also exposed how often the lineup ran out of firepower when it mattered. The Winter Meetings are typically where executives hammer out deals, agents find deals for their free agent clients, and teams give hope to their fans. Will the Royals find some answers to their offensive woes?
Here’s what to know about next week’s Winter Meetings.
What have the Royals done so far?
It has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Royals so far, even as the rest of baseball has shown more early activity than in past seasons. The big move so far this offseason has been re-signing veteran catcher Salvador Perez to a two-year, $25 million deal. The team declined options on Randal Grichuk and Michael Lorenzen. Mike Yastrzemski hit free agency, although the Royals have expressed some interest in bringing him back. The Royals non-tendered outfielder MJ Melendez and reliever Taylor Clarke, but re-signed second baseman Jonathan India despite a disappointing season.
The Royals brought in former Tigers closer Alex Lange on a minor league deal, hoping he can recover from his injury. They acquired Kameron Misner, a former Mizzou outfielder, from the Rays. They also added to their pitching depth by getting right-hander Mason Black from the Giants. The Royals also have 20 minor leaguers who became free agents, including former first-round pick Nick Pratto. The team also added pitchers Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac to the 40-man roster, giving them 38 players.
The team also shuffled the coaching staff, hiring Marcus Thames and Connor Dawson to serve as hitting coaches under senior director of hitting Alec Zumwalt. Thames is a veteran hitting coach who has worked for the Yankees, Angels, Marlins, and spent last year with the White Sox. Dawson comes over from the Brewers and is a Kansas City-area native. The pair replaces Keoni DeRenne and Joe Dillon. The Royals also hired Mike McFerran away from the Athletics to serve as assistant pitching coach under Brian Sweeney. He replaces Zach Bove, who left to become the new pitching coach for the White Sox.
Acquired players: Mason Black, Connor Kaiser, Alex Lange, Kameron Misner
Departed players: Taylor Clarke, Adam Frazier, Randal Grichuk, Hunter Harvey, Sam Long, Michael Lorenzen, Luke Maile, MJ Melendez, Kyle Wright, Mike Yastrzemski
Added to the 40-man roster: Ben Kudrna, Steven Zobac
What are the Royals looking to do?
The need for the Royals is obvious – more offense. The Royals need more bats to lengthen the lineup, and could use help to upgrade the worst-hitting outfield in baseball.
The Royals are said to be looking to add a left fielder, according to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand. Ideally, they can find one who can play every day, although Picollo indicated he is open to a platoon situation. Mike Yastrzemski could be a possibility in a platoon situation, according to Ken Rosenthal.
He would also like to add a right-handed bat who can complement the left-handed hitting Jac Caglianone in right field. Picollo indicated at his end-of-the-season press conference that Caglianone would have to earn his position in the lineup. Potential free agent possibilities include Miguel Andujar, Harrison Bader, Willi Castro, Michael Conforto, Adolis GarcÃa, Austin Hays, Max Kepler, Chas McCormick, Rob Refsnyder, Austin Slater, and Lane Thomas.
But with a thin free agent market, the Royals are more likely to turn to trades. They seem more likely to trade from their surplus of pitching to add a bat, according to Anne Rogers. Will Sammon of The Athletic reported the team is open to moving Kris Bubic, who has one year left before free agency.
Jon Morosi reports the Royals have been evaluating the trade market, and Rogers says the team swapped offers on Angels outfielder Taylor Ward before he was dealt to the Orioles. Rogers says the Royals have also inquired about Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but that the price was too high. However, rumors continue to swirl about the All-Star outfielder. The Red Sox have reportedly been interested in Cole Ragans, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Boston recently acquired pitchers Sonny Gray of the Cardinals and Johan Oviedo of the Pirates, but neither is the kind of high-upside arm that Ragans represents.
Other potential trade targets for the Royals could include Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox, Jo Adell of the Angels, Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar of the Cardinals, Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks, Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, Teoscar Hernandez of the Dodgers, Jeff McNeil of the Mets, and Nick Castellanos of the Phillies.
2025 Winter meetings schedule
Teams will begin to arrive over the weekend, with the meetings kicking off on Sunday, December 7. That day, the Contemporary Era Hall of Fame committee will release the results of their ballot.
On Tuesday, December 9, MLB will hold its draft lottery to determine next year’s draft order. On Wednesday, December 10, teams will conclude the meetings by holding the Rule 5 draft, which allows teams to select players unprotected by other organizations. The Royals protected pitchers Ben Kudrna and Steven Zobac, but left unprotected infielders Javier Vaz and Daniel Vazquez, outfielder Gavin Cross, and pitcher Frank Mozzicato.